In a significant move for the sport of boxing in Singapore, the Singapore Boxing Federation (SBF) has established the Singapore Boxing Commission
as the professional arm of the SBF, with the aim of making the country a hub for boxing in Southeast Asia. Officially launched on August 14, the Commission will set a strong foundation for both amateur and professional boxers, providing systematic regulation and administration—a critical component previously missing in Singapore’s professional boxing scene.
The commission seeks to bridge the gap between amateur and professional boxing, supporting boxers at all levels to excel. Former promoter and coach Arvind Lalwani, who has been appointed as the vice-chairman, emphasized the importance of integrity and safety in the sport, highlighting the commission's role in setting rules and maintaining standards. "It's important to have a commission based on integrity... and the safety aspect of fighters is very important (too). We’re the ones who set the rules... we keep things right,” Lalwani said.
Concrete plans to establish the commission have been underway since early 2024, with the SBF taking proactive steps such as collaborating with overseas sanctioning bodies to conduct courses for referees and judges. “Our goal is to make Singapore a regional boxing hub. We want to have big fights happening... we want to help the promoters, to do our part and give a good pathway for our boxers,” Lalwani added.
The commission’s first assignment will be overseeing the Test of Champions event, set to take place on August 17 at the Foochow Building in Jalan Besar. The boxing community has welcomed the formation of the commission, seeing it as a necessary step toward elevating the sport in Singapore. Hamzah Farouk, a former boxer-turned-promoter and the organizer of the Test of Champions, called it a “wonderful initiative,” noting that professional boxing needs better regulation to ensure the safety and future of fighters.
Professional boxer Amanda Chan praised the establishment of the commission, expressing gratitude for the emphasis on raising the standards of boxing in Singapore to international levels. “I’m grateful that the bar is being set to bring the levels of boxing to international standard and the commission is run by veterans in the sport who are knowledgeable, up to date and have the fighters’ best interest at heart,” she said.
Boxer Samantha Quek, currently based outside Singapore, also shared her optimism for the growth of the sport, citing the numerous new opportunities the commission will bring for both amateur and professional boxers. “It makes me happy to see that there are many new initiatives for both the amateur and professional boxers to compete in, which will definitely help us to grow the sport in the country,” Quek said.
With the establishment of the Singapore Boxing Commission, the future looks bright for boxing in Singapore, paving the way for more structured growth and increased opportunities for local talent to shine on both regional and international stages.